Let's face it, the Transformers franchise is nothing more than empty calorie blockbusters that lets your brain take a nap while your eyes embrace the visuals and jaw-dropping action. Age of Extinction is not only relentless in it's running time but it finds a way to forgive its faults.

As a critic, this should be torn up for it's awful acting, bloated 165-minute running time, and a storyline as thin as a string of yarn.

However, if you're a fan of Transformers. It's a refreshing to see them escape from the humans and focus more on the cornball but effective simplicity of the Autobots and Decepticons.

Mark Wahlberg is Cade Yeager, an amateur inventor from West Texas that's having eviction issues unless he brings in some cash. At the same time he has to deal with rebellious daughter (Nicola Peltz) dating an race-car driver. Thank goodness (sarcasm)! Because he's important because he drives.

As my eyes began to roll, Cade finds a broken down semi and all I could think was it's Optimus Prime! Meanwhile, Harold Attinger an alien eliminating politician (Kelsey Grammer) is using his own force to destroy all remaining Autobots. While a genius billionaire (Stanley Tucci, huh?) is using parts to create bigger and better versions with a new but outlandish formula. After his cronies try to get Cade to spill info by brute force, out comes OPTIMUS PRIME to wreck them. Thank you, because when the story sticks with them which speeds up the film.

Director Michael Bay (hush, basement dwellers) stamps his passport of destruction to good usage by turning cities into economy-stricken rubble like Houston, Chicago (again), Shanghai and top it off with Hong Kong. Bay is the master of destructive action choreography. Following the kitchen sink philosophy by destroying buildings, blowing up ships, and sacrificing us humans to give you the best action sequences of the franchise. Topped off with eye-popping CGI that alone will have you cheering in your seats, if that's your thing.

Even as a fan of the franchise, admit you wanted Megan Fox to comeback because Peltz is nails on a chalkboard. When she speaks, you want to check for closed captioning. Even Bay-ifying her didn't help. Ditzy and unlikable with blonde hair, make-up done by oil funnel and jean panties. However, Reynor was worse. He was the stereotypical jerk wanting to rebel and take ownership of Cade's daughter. Taking credit and coming off like a coward, his stiff as 2 x 4 delivery and someone should foot the bill to buy him acting lessons. You know you're bad when your supporting cast is out acting you in live-action and as an autobot. Ha-ha.

Peter Cullen always nailing down Optimus Prime for the last 18 years. Lockdown is brought back respectfully voiced by Mark Ryan. Even John Goodman (Damages) and Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai) lend their voices to Hound, a military transformer chomping on a cigar and firing a .50 cal and Drift, a samurai with double-edged swords. No, this isn't racial overtones like Revenge of the Fallen was guilty of. Always a delight is Wahlberg, Tucci, and Grammer. In fact, Grammer looked ready for his character to be offed, so he can grab his paycheck.

Verdict: B

Transformers: Age of Extinction goes two ways whether you're a fan of the franchise then you will forgive this for it's thin storyline, tomato throwing acting and 165 minute running time. If not, you'll dismiss it as one of the worst of the year. I may be a critic, but i'm also a fan.